The former NFL commissioner badly wanted parity in his league, envisioning a sport in which everyone had an equal chance to compete for championships no matter their zip code.

Objective met.

Thanks to a financial model in which all 32 teams equally split profit and an unforgiving salary cap that prohibits big-city franchises from lavishly outspending their small-market counterparts, Rozelle’s grand plan for equality has never been more pronounced.

It’s been 10 years since the NFL crowned a back-to-back champion, and just as long since anyone has played in consecutive Super Bowls.

Over the last decade, we’ve seen champions emerge from all corners of the NFL map. From small-town America Green Bay to the mighty metropolis New York, location and population and local backing matter little.

When everyone gets the same cut of the pie and payroll conformity rules, it’s less about financial might and more about drafting and developing and coaching.

But no matter how well you draft and develop, the hard cap makes it impossible to keep talented teams entirely intact.

And that means small windows for even the best of them.

Which brings us to the Seattle Seahawks, who are trying to turn Rozelle’s perfect world on top of its head.

The defending Super Bowl champions are just young and talented enough to mount a sustained run of greatness, and if things break right, become the first team since the New England Patriots to win back-to-back championships.

And that makes them one of the top storylines to pay attention to this year.

But there are plenty others, to be sure.

Here are the top five.

5. PEYTON’S PLACE?

Last time we saw Peyton Manning, he was getting walloped by the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. And in the process, one of the great seasons in the history of NFL quarterbacks was all but forgotten as we watched Manning struggle against the Seahawks. He was helpless against Seattle’s pressure, looked awkward and old when forced to throw on the run, and all too often his ball fluttered beyond intended targets — or worse, into the arms of waiting defenders.

It was a Manning we aren’t used to seeing. And one we certainly didn’t expect.

The Super Bowl was supposed to solidify his position among the greatest ever. And perhaps the final act in an illustrious career.

Instead, we are left to wonder if he will be regarded as one of the great big-game quarterbacks of all time.

Manning is 11-12 in the playoffs, and 1-2 in Super Bowls.

A regular-season giant, to be sure.

The playoffs, not so much.

The good news is the Broncos have assembled one of the youngest, deepest rosters in the NFL. All the necessary pieces are in place for Manning to make another run at the Super Bowl.

But no matter how high he and the Broncos soar through the regular season — and chances are another record-breaking performance is in order — all that really matters is what happens in the postseason.

4. JOHNNY FOOTBALL: BOOM OR BUST?

Johnny Manziel can create a story, stir the pot and immediately inject life into a situation. And Lord knows the Browns needed all of the above.

But at some point, he’s got to transform hype into production. And there remain questions about his ability to do so.

Especially after watching new Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill pick right up where Manziel left last season. Between wondering if Manziel’s college success was simply the product of a superior system and worrying if the flamboyant off-field lifestyle affects his on-field performance, Manziel’s future is no sure thing.

And that doesn’t even consider his smallish frame, a free-wheeling playing style that might not be suited for the NFL and a reliance on running that will undoubtedly expose him to harm.

Manziel might be all that. And he will get his chance sooner rather than later in Cleveland. But if sure things are your thing, Manziel isn’t your guy.

3. TROUBLE IN THE BAY

The 49ers are unquestionably one of the most talented teams in the NFL. And Jim Harbaugh is one of the league’s shrewdest coaches.

But there are issues.

Plenty of them.

The defense has sustained an astounding amount of hits over the last calendar year, the kind from which you don’t easily rebound. Outside linebacker Aldon Smith will miss at least the first nine games while serving an NFL-imposed suspension. Inside linebacker Navarro Bowman (knee) and defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey (biceps) will miss an extended period of time to begin the season.

And over the weekend, defensive tackle Ray McDonald was arrested for felony domestic violence, his future now in the hands of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who recently laid out a new, harsher punishment plan for domestic violence incidents.

On top of that, the 49ers offense looked out of sync throughout training camp. Granted, it’s foolhardy to draw too much from the preseason, but after suffering so many personnel losses defensively, the 49ers desperately need the offense to pick up the slack, at least early on.

If Colin Kaepernick and his mates aren’t up to the challenge, the 49ers might be in trouble in the rapidly improving NFC West.

2. NO LOVE FOR TOM BRADY

It’s been 10 years since the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl, and nine since they’ve played in one.

None of which is a reflection on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who remains one of the NFL’s elite signal callers.

You just wonder if the organization truly appreciates him.

In other words, why don’t the Patriots continually go the distance to surround Brady with the necessary talent to insure the final years of his career are not played in vain?

Brady might never publicly say so, but it’s got to chafe him that the Denver Broncos are so all-in on capitalizing on Peyton Manning’s closing window that they spare no expense in putting as many playmakers around him as possible.

One of whom — Wes Welker — just happened to be one of Brady’s favorite targets.

But while the Broncos keep doing right by Manning, the Patriots don’t do the same by Brady.

They allow Welker to walk for nothing and surprisingly trade long-time offensive lineman Logan Mankins. As far as building around Brady through the draft and free agency, the Patriots haven’t exactly surrounded him with the sort of dynamic talent necessary to enhance his greatness.

They say they are focused on protecting their long-term interests.

But shouldn’t there be more urgency to capitalize on one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time?

1. NOT SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE

The Seahawks will eventually fly face-first into the uncompromising salary cap, and when they do, difficult decisions will have to be made and talented players sacrificed.

But for the time being, they resemble the closet thing the NFL has to a potential juggernaut in some time.

At the very least, they are in line to cash in on a second-straight Super Bowl, and these days that’s dynasty talk.

Credit Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider for building a young, dynamic roster — most notably a punshing defense — and by stealing quarterback Russell Wilson in the third round two years ago.

The Seahawks have suffered just nominal personnel losses since last season, and with the 49ers absorbing some significant losses, the path back to the Super Bowl looks easier this year than last.

Vincent Bonsignore is an NFL columnist for the Southern California News Group. Having covered the Los Angeles sports scene for more than two decades, Bonsignore has emerged as one of the leading voices on the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, the NFL and NFL relocation.